The 38-year-old author, who will put the "definitive" account of the comedian's life to paper, considered Williams his "cultural hero," and said that the actor had gentle personality and was always very funny and thoughtful, the Hollywood Reporter reported.

Itzkoff, who had joined the Times staff in 2006, had also penned the newspaper's front-page obituary of the Mrs. Doubtfire actor, who committed suicide earlier this month, and had written the comedian's profile for the paper in 2009.

Publisher Henry Holt, who announced the news of the book, is yet to declare a title and publication date for the project.